Any business, no matter how small or large, needs to take steps to guard against the possibility that someone may be injured due to their negligence. 

You need to limit the odds of people—customers or employees—getting injured on your business premises because of a design flaw in your products or a problem with your services.

In case of personal injury to a customer or employee, they may file a personal injury case to try and get compensation for medical bills or other losses. Compensation for accident victims often includes not only medical expenses but also claims for lost income. If the customer or employee is unable to work due to an injury sustained on your premises, you may be legally obligated to compensate them. In cases where an accident results in a permanent handicap or disfigurement, the overall cost of compensation can rise significantly.

Financial loss and reputational loss

If your business insurance covers the accident, the immediate financial consequences of a personal injury claim might be mitigated. The loss that won’t be covered by business insurance will be your reputational loss. 

Getting hit by a personal injury suit can be disastrous for a business. If news of a big accident on your premises or an injury due to your product gets out, you will lose the trust of your customer base. You will also find it harder to attract new customers as no one wants to risk being the next person injured due to an “unsafe” business.

Slip & Fall: A typical personal injury scenario

According to a gresham personal injury attorney, one of the most common types of personal injuries in businesses are the slip and fall accidents. 

A slip-and-fall accident in a business – such as a grocery store or restaurant – is when an individual loses balance and falls due to hazardous conditions. Property owners or occupiers are typically held responsible for maintaining a safe environment for visitors or guests. If you are found liable for a personal injury due to a slip and fall, you could be held responsible for the medical and rehabilitative costs associated with the accident. 

Premises Liability Laws and what they mean for businesses

Oregon and many other states have premises liability laws that presume property owners have a duty of care to anyone who enters their property. This legal liability means that premises must be maintained safely, and owners must take proactive steps to prevent accidents and injuries.

In the case of a slip-and-fall, business owners need to ensure that customers cannot lose their balance and fall. Aside from fixing areas that could trip someone up, like an uneven walkway or loose floorboards, hazards must be marked with visible signs. 

For a slip-and-fall personal injury case to move forward, the plaintiff needs to show that the property owner breached their duty to care and that this breach was the direct cause of their accident and resulting injuries. 

If you are “lucky,” the plaintiff might only demand compensation for medical expenses, pain, and suffering. If the injuries were severe, you might be hit with additional damages in the form of lost wages (if the injuries prevented them from working or resulted in a long-term disability), property damage (if personal belongings such as clothing or electronic devices were damaged), loss of consortium, and even punitive damages. Of course, you may incur legal fees during the personal injury case.

How to safeguard against personal liability claims

As we noted at the start of this article, accidents happen. Businesses need to ensure that, when they do happen, they have measures to mitigate the damage. While ensuring that your premises and products are safe is essential, it’s not a guarantee that a slip and fall or other accident will never happen.

Accident prevention is essential, but so is being ready for an accident. One way that businesses can ensure that they are prepared in case of a personal injury claim is to have business insurance. The other effective method of mitigating the financial damage of a personal injury claim is to have a good personal injury lawyer on call. A personal injury lawyer will ensure that you have proper legal representation and can help you manage risk and reduce the potential financial burden of a personal injury claim.